ERITREA

FACTSHEET
December 2014

HIGHLIGHTS
35

632

77

10

Identified separated
children

Households provided with

cash grants in year 2014

Household items
distributed since January

Shelters distributed since

January

Population of concern
A total of

Funding

2902 people of concern

USD 6,262,668 requested

By country of origin
Country

Total PoC*

Somalia

2764

Others

138

Total

Funded
34%
Gap
66%

2902

UNHCR Presence
Staff:

Offices:

12 national staff
3 international staff
8 affiliate staff (National and international)

Asmara and Field presence in Umkulu, Massawa

EXTERNAL

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Note: *PoC stands for persons of concern

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WORKING WITH PARTNERS

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On 10 December 2014, the UNCT held its last country meeting of the year. A couple of issues were discussed
and one major issue that was raised related to common UN expenses for common services and how these should
be discussed and agreed beforehand for 2015. The respective agencies will then be requested to pay in quarterly
installments before-hand. Suffice it to mention, all the agencies should factor this in their annual budget
planning.

UNHCR participated in two dinner events organized for the Norwegian Justice Ministry Mission in Asmara (14-19
Dec). The main aim of the mission was to discuss and sign a partnership agreement with UNDP and the GoSE, on
a Youth Employment and Skills Development Project, aimed at generating a source of income for Eritrean Youth.
The Norwegian government has extended a grant of usd$750,000/- for the year 2015. The Mission also met with
a number of other stakeholders (local and international) to discuss a myriad of related issues.
rd

As part of the activities of the 16 Days of Activism against gender based violence against women and girls, on 3
th
and 4 December 2014, UNHCR in cooperation with the Office for Refugee Affairs (ORA), undertook the
following activities:

Focus Group discussions with Men in 3 age groups (15-20yrs; 21-31yrs; 32-50yrs). A 10-point Action Plan
themed: What men can do to end violence perpetrated against women and girls, and translated to Somali
was shared. In each age group, there were 15 participants, all of whom freely discussed on the issues of
SGBV, and principally, on early marriage and FGM/C. At the end of all the sessions, the participants
committed themselves to contribute to the eradication of harmful social and cultural practices.

Focus Group discussions with Women in 3 age groups (15-20yrs; 21-31yrs; 32-50yrs). With these groups, a
Solidarity Plan of 10 action points, translated to Somali was shared, along with symbolic uniform scarfs for
all the women who participated, including the facilitators. The theme of the solidarity action plan was:
What women can do to address violence perpetrated against fellow women and girls. Each age group had
15 participants. The discussions were lively and informative. All the women and girls agreed to collaborate
in aiding each other to address issues related to violence perpetrated against them.

Children activities were also divided in 3 age groups.

The age group from 05-10yrs participated in picture portrayal of what they understood or have
witnessed as violence against women and girls. 15 children participated and 3 winners were
identified. Prizes were presented to the winners at the end of the 16-day activities, and these
photos will be laminated and posted on UNHCR boards within the office and the rest, in the camp
boards.

From the age group of 11-15yrs, one girl read out a short biography of a Sudanese girl who
escaped an actual threat of FGM/C and lived happily thereafter. After the story was read, the
group exchanged ideas and views on the subject, which was quiet productive, in bringing the
crucial lessons home in the minds of the girls of this age group.

The age group of 16-18yrs participated in a debate. The topic was Early marriage: Culturally is
acceptable and should continue Vs. Is culturally backward and affects girls rights and physiological
make up and should not continue. It was a heated and lively debate where not only the debating
participants but also the audience fully participated in the debate expressing and defending their
views. The latter side won the debate but in the spirit of the event, all participants were awarded
with prizes in recognition of their participation.

MAIN ACTIVITIES
International Protection

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On 16th December 2014, UNHCR Eritrea conducted an in-house ProGres database refresher course. 5
staff participated in the same.

UNHCR Eritrea conducted its first Enterprise Risk Management in-house course on 17th December 2014.
In total, 7 colleagues in the operation will now be able to fill in the Operation Risk Register. The partner
training will be conducted in early 2015, followed by a review of the already developed current
preliminary Risk Register, in Feb/March 2015.

On 18th December 2014, UNHCR Eritrea held a briefing on Cash Based Interventions (CBI) Protection
mainstreaming. This followed the Nairobi workshop of December 2014, where emphasis was placed on
the importance of mainstreaming protection in refugee cash based interventions. Following this briefing,
the operation will improve on its CBI program design, in terms of strengthening the protection related
components, as well as establishing a reliable complaints mechanism to check against the efficacy and
protection benefits derived from the intervention.

Shelter and NFIs

UNHCR Eritrea finalized arrangements on the expected 1,200 tents destined for Umkulu Refugee Camp.
The consignment is expected to arrive between January and February 2015.
Community Empowerment and Self-Reliance
The term of the present Horticultural Consultant ends on 31 Dec 2014, and the newly recruited one is
expected to arrive early next year and stay on for three months. In the interim, refugees engaged in the
project will continue with the activities, under the supervision of the Implementing Partner and selected
focal points.
Durable Solutions

UNHCR facilitated the voluntary return of the first group of 12 Somali refugees back to Somalia in safety
and dignity, on 22 Dec 2014. The group departed from Massawa International Airport in Eritrea to
Hargeisa, Somalia by a chartered UNHAS flight. They were received in Hargeisa by UNHCR colleagues and
will be assisted with a return package, as well as facilitated to return to their villages of origin. The entire
operation was successful and it is hoped that this open opportunity will encourage other families desirous
and able to return to do so. UNHCR greatly appreciates the involvement and cooperation of the GoSE in
this initiative as the ultimate aim of the operation is to see that all refugees have durable solutions.

On 17th December 2014, UNHCR Eritrea facilitated the resettlement departure of 8 refugees to France.

Community Empowerment and Self-Reliance

The first batch of Computer Training participants were graduated on 4 December 2014. The graduates
were 20 high school students who attended a three months course on basics computer skills. The purpose
of the training is to help refugees develop their computer literacy skills so that they will be able to cope
with the growing technology and opportunities.

As part of the livelihood project, a total of 92 refugees have received the training/awareness-raising session
on Horticulture. The training was provided in the demonstration centre that was established in Umkulu
camp. The trainees are from refugee and host communities that include participants form adults, youth

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and teachers. The topics covered under the training include: Importance of Urban and Peri-Urban
gardening, Plant nutrition and manure application, Compost production, Seedling production and direct
sowing, Family Drip Irrigation and Good Agriculture Practices (plant problems, pests, diseases and virus.
Certificate was awarded on 24th December 2014 to all who actively participated in the training.

On 22nd December 2014, UNHCR/ORA distributed a total of 56 goats/sheep to benefit 28 households

among the most in need in Umkulu camp. The assistance was given for breeding, with the aim to support
the livelihood situation of refugee households who have Persons with Specific Needs among the family
members. The same beneficiaries will be supported with feed for the coming six months. The goat/sheep
distribution was done for the second time in Umkulu Refugee Camp; during the first distribution 35
households were benefited.

Access to Energy

Installation of energy saving stoves was finalized towards the end of December 2014. 100 improved stoves
were installed to 100 refugee households. Installation work was done by 10 trained women whom carried
out the installation work by involving beneficiary women who also contributed in collecting locally available
materials. The improved stove reduces heat loss, reducing consumption of firewood by 50% and also
reduces the amount of cash spent to buy firewood as the amount of wood needed for cooking reduce. The
reduction of smoke and fumes in the household and surrounding protects women and girls from
respiratory infections. The project was funded by Swiss Embassy in Sudan.

Logistics

Generators from ORAs warehouse, as well as three old cars were transferred to UNHCR for disposal.

UNHCR is grateful for the generous contributions of donors who have given earmarked and broadly
earmarked contributions to UNHCR this year as well as the following donors who have directly
contributed to the operation:
Swiss Embassy in Sudan | CERF UF Eritrea I German DAFI tertiary Scholarship fund

Contacts:
Bernadette Muteshi, Protection Officer/OIC, Muteshi@unhcr.org, Tel: +291 1 182 484
Monica Modici, Communications Specialist, modici@unhcr.org, Tel: +291 1 182 484, Cell +291 7 307044

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) www.unhcr.org